Teacher on Tap has been created to fill a need for a tuition method that will be useful to students from beginner to advanced. It is comprehensive and thorough and caters to a wide range of tastes and musical styles. It provides technical information and a detailed examination of those challenges specific to the Saxophone or Clarinet.

Teacher on Tap uses current technology to provide aural models that will allow the student to develop a good concept of playing the instrument in a range of musical styles. It is very affordable, and very effective for students studying alone, in band programs, or with a teacher. The method is fun and makes the process of learning enjoyable.

Teacher on Tap comes in three book/CD units; Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced for Eb saxophones (alto/baritone) or Bb saxophones (tenor/soprano), or Bb Clarinet, all linked to the Workshop Manual information books.

Each Book/CD unit contains:

1) A lesson Plan which shows how new material is introduced to the student systematically in absorbable amounts. Moving logically through the key cycle, new pitches, rhythms, articulations, technical challenges, musical notation, terms, styles and forms are presented, all linked to the "Workshop Manual" for further detail.

By the end of the Advanced book the student will be familiar with all standard fingerings on the instrument, most common forms of articulation, the key cycle (major and minor) up to three sharps and flats and a broad spectrum of rhythms and their notation. Also musical terms, a wide range of musical styles, and a good body of technical information about the instrument. The student will have a solid concept of tone production, and the confidence to move on, with a teacher, to study the existing repertoire in whatever style he or she chooses.

2) Practice Routines which are intended to help students to structure their practice time for maximum benefit. Coupled with the "Art of Practice" article in the "Workshop Manual" the student should be able to use what time they have for practice most efficiently.

3) A Key/Scale Outline to familiarise the student with each new key and its scale (a new key for each level from Level 4 onward). It contains the basic scale shape, the chord and extensions, and the scale in thirds.

4) Technical studies which provide the player with a thorough investigation of the challenges likely to be encountered in certain keys, finger technique, articulation, rhythmic notation and style considerations. They are designed to prepare the student for the upcoming pieces. These are all linked with the "Workshop Manual" to aid in problem solving.

5) Pieces, which are the core of the system and present challenging material in an enjoyable and palatable way. Technique, articulation, reading, control and musical challenges are presented within a wide range of styles likely to be encountered by today's saxophone/clarinet player. They contain memorable melodies, contemporary harmonies, rhythms and sonorities that are characteristic of these musical styles.

6) The CD, which is essential in helping the student to develop a concept of playing the instrument and the music itself. Each piece is presented with

(a) the piece being demonstrated and

(b) the background minus the soloist, providing the student with an accompaniment with which to practice. Besides being fun, playing with the background accompaniment should dramatically develop the student's awareness of intonation (tuning) and time (pulse). These are critical factors for a saxophone player and are often not dealt with suitably in other methods.

The Workshop Manual comes separately and contains information on most subjects of importance to the Saxophone or Clarinet student from assembling the instrument through to selecting reeds and mouthpieces. It covers the contributions made to playing by the various parts of the anatomy, problem solving hints for embouchure, articulation, tuning, tone production and finger technique as well as sound production and flexibility exercises. It also contains a very useful chapter entitled "The Art of Practising" as well as appendices that link the system to other published material and a glossary of terms, a fingering chart and much more.

Elementary

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This Book/CD unit provides the student with all the fundamentals for playing the instrument. It contains:

• Information on the basics of playing the instrument (linked to the Workshop Manual)
• Elementary pitch/rhythm notation
• Pitch range (sx) low D to G above staff, (cl) bottom E to G above staff
• Key cycle Cmaj/Amin/Gmaj/Emin
• Introduces air attacks, tonguing, legato tonguing, throat tones, change of register, basic flexibility
• Musical terms, scale syllabuses, practise routines
• Over 40 technical studies
• More than 20 complete pieces in a wide range of musical styles with aural models and accompaniment tracks

Intermediate

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This book/CD unit takes the student into more advanced areas of playing. It contains:

• Compound rhythms, syncopation, swing phrasing
• Pitch range (sx) bottom Bb to top D (cl) bottom E to top D
• Key cycle Fmaj, Dmin, Dmaj, Bmin, Bbmaj
• Staccato tonguing, swing phrasing, accents, alternate fingerings and ornaments, scale syllabuses, intermediate flexibility
• More than 50 technical studies
• 20 Intermediate level pieces in styles ranging from Baroque to Funk with aural models and accompaniment tracks

Advanced

This book/CD unit takes the student into more advanced areas of playing. It contains:

• Advanced rhythms and phrasing, advanced syncopation
• Pitch range (sx) bottom Bb to top F (cl) bottom E to top G
• Key cycle Gmin, Amaj, F#min, Ebmaj, Cmin
• Chromatic and diatonic scale workout
• Ornaments, trill fingerings, simple improvisation
• Advanced technical sudies
• 16 advanced pieces in a wide range of styles with aural models and accompaniment tracks
  20 Intermediate level pieces in styles ranging from Baroque to Funk with aural models and accompaniment tracks